Top Options for Fixing an Incorrect Bite

Posted June 21, 2016.

Have you noticed your teeth no longer seem to bite together correctly? Although very few people will have an absolutely perfect bite, ideally all your teeth should meet together when you close your jaws and there shouldn’t be any teeth biting down before others. So does it really matter if you have an incorrect bite?

The problem with incorrectly aligned teeth is that they can place quite a bit of stress on your facial muscles and on your jaw joints. If your teeth are out of alignment then you might be more prone to bruxism where you clench and grind your teeth together during the night. This can be a serious condition that is often stress-related because it can cause significant damage to your teeth, gums and jaw joints.

What Are the Consequences of Having an Incorrect Bite?

The consequences of having an incorrect bite include teeth that become fractured or chipped because you will be biting down on some of them before others, which increases the stress on these teeth. This can also cause gum recession, exposing your tooth roots. As a result teeth may become loose or will move out of position and if you have any periodontal disease then this could become worse. An incorrect bite can also be extremely detrimental for any restoration work, particularly for dental implants and for crown and dental bridge work which is why it’s important to take action to adjust it. If your bite is in need of adjustment, you might find you frequently wake up with headaches or with painful facial muscles. It could hurt to open or close your jaw.

Several Options for Repairing a Bad Bite

If you suspect your incorrect bite could do with some help then please book an appointment to come and see us here at D & D Periodontal Associates. An initial examination will help us determine the cause of the misalignment and we can then suggest the most suitable course of treatment.

Sometimes treating a misaligned bite can be quite straightforward. It could be a matter of simply reshaping some of the biting surfaces of your teeth. To do this we would simply need you to bite down on some occlusal paper. This is extremely thin paper that leaves marks on the tooth surfaces identifying the high spots. By removing a tiny amount of tooth enamel, we may be able to get your teeth to bite together more accurately.

How Can Correcting a Bad Bite Help Treat Bruxism

If you have old and damaged restorations then it is worth getting these replaced. This will help protect these teeth and your new restorations can be custom-made to help adjust your incorrect bite into the correct position. Our periodontists can also assess your gum health and if you have any signs of active gum disease then we can provide the best and most up-to-date solutions.

Problems with bruxism are often easily treated with a custom-made night splint or mouthguard. This is made from a tough plastic material and is designed to prevent your teeth from grinding and clenching during the night. Another solution is to use Botox to help relax the facial muscles.

Once we have corrected your teeth, you should find it far more comfortable to bite down and of course we can prevent any further damage, helping your teeth to last longer.